In this episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, Dr. Russell Kennedy — physician, neuroscientist, and founder of “The Anxiety MD,” who reframes anxiety as a felt alarm in the body rather than a problem to think your way out of.
From childhood alarm quietly fueling autoimmune flares to a simple ABC framework (Awareness, Body, Compassion) that helps patients finally get out of their heads and into their bodies, this episode is packed with real clinical insight and practical tools you won’t hear anywhere else.

Chapters and Time-stamps
00:31 Meet Dr Russell Kennedy
01:44 Origin Story and Sensitivity
03:53 Background Alarm Explained
05:33 Alarm Anxiety Cycle
07:52 LSD Insight Body Based Anxiety
10:08 Find Anxiety in the Body
12:52 Meditation and Thought Distance
16:08 Catastrophizing and Certainty Traps
19:10 ABC Method Get Into Body
24:13 Sensation Without Explanation
27:25 Adult Child Reunion and Autoimmunity
29:43 Autoimmune and Anxiety Link
30:45 ALARMS Childhood Triggers
32:44 Anxiety vs Depression Signals
33:51 Pain as a Lighthouse
36:55 Prayer and Trusting Life
40:56 Practicing Gratitude Daily
43:25 Why Medicine Falls Short
45:42 Group Healing and Patterns
49:52 Addiction Shame and Support
52:27 Surprised by Connection 55:01 Where to Find Dr Kennedy
56:36 Final Takeaway Connection Heals

Key Takeaways
🧠 Anxiety Isn’t in Your Mind — It’s in Your Body
🚨 Every Anxious Person Has a Background “Alarm” Running
👶 Your Anxiety Is Actually Your Younger Self, Waiting
🫁 Sensation Without Explanation — Feel It, Don’t Fix It
🔄 The ABC Method: Awareness, Body, Compassion
🩹 Autoimmune Flares Can Be the Child Asking to Be Heard
🤝 Connection Heals What Pills Never Will

Guest Details & Links
Guest: Dr. Russell Kennedy
Specialty: Physician | Neuroscientist | Anxiety & Nervous System Healing
Background: Grew up with a father who had schizophrenia and bipolar illness; developed his own anxiety disorder early in life; left traditional medicine after discovering healing comes through the body, not pharmaceuticals alone
Education: Medical Doctor (MD); background in neuroscience
Past Work: Practiced medicine for years before shifting fully into anxiety education, writing, and coaching
Turning Point: A 2013 experience revealed his anxiety was held in his body (not his mind) — reshaping his entire approach to healing
Known For: Bestselling, award-winning author of Anxiety Rx; creator of the ABC Method (Awareness, Body, Compassion) and the ALARMS framework
Offers: Online course — Your Mind Body Prescription for Permanent Anxiety Healing; upcoming third book
Also Known As: “The Anxiety MD”
Links:
🌐 Website: The Anxiety MD
📷 Instagram: @TheAnxietyMD
📖 Book: Anxiety Rx
About Your Hosts
Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University’s Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women’s wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast
Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy
AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.

Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy
Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com
Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org
Instagram: @myautoimmunemd
Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD
YouTube: @myautoimmunemd
Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com
Subscribe & Review: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. If this episode helped you understand environmental toxins and autoimmune disease, please leave a 5-star review!